Racheting handtool mechanism



NOV. 4, 1969 w, M, ROBERTS ET AL 3,475,999

RACHETING HANDTOOL MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 20, 1967INVENTORS TTOR/VEYS Nov. 4, 1969 W. M. ROBERTS ET Al- RACHETING HANDTooLMECHANsM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 20, 1967 j TORNE Ys United StatesPatent O U.S. Cl. 81-63 4 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE Following isdisclosed a racheting handtool mechanism that includes a shank with anenlarged portion on one end having teeth on its periphery with opposedflanks that are substantially parallel. The enlarged portion has apolygon shaped socket on an interior region and a rotatable handle issecured to the shank and receives a removable tool. A housing having apivotable arm encloses the enlarged portion, and a reciprocable pincarried by the housing is biased inward to engage the teeth. The end ofthe pin is beveled to permit rotation of the enlarged portion in onedirection, but may be manually retracted and rotated to permit reversedrotation. The pivotable arm has a yoke securedto the housing topartially cover and protect the pin. Insulation is provided to enableuse around electrical conductors.

BACKGROUND AND GENERAL DISCUSSION Previously, racheting handtoolmechanisms have been developed that utilize removable Screwdrivers andother inserts -such as adapters for socket wrenches. Such mechanismswith which we are familiar have a number of signicant disadvantages. Itis common for them to have a rachet mechanism with only one direction ofrotation, or alternatively, the means utilized for reversing theracheting direction is lacking in that degree of ruggednesscharacterized by fail-safe reliability. Moreover, the means forreversing the racheting direction is frequently exposed and thus subjectto accidental impact and breakage. Some of them have stationary handlesthat tend to rotate in ones hand, thereby necessitating periodic changesin grip. Others have a form of construction in which electricalinsulation is diicult to achieve. It is our purpose to provide aracheting hand tool mechanism which overcomes many of the abovementioned disadvantages.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES OF THE DRAWING FIG. l is an exploded,perspective view of a racheting handtool Imechanism embodying theprinciples of our invention; FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevationalview of the mechanism shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a fragmentary bottomview, partially in section, showing details of construction of theracheting mechanism; FIG. 4 is a sectional view as seen looking alongthe line IV-IV of FIG. 2; and FIGS. 5 and 6 are perspective views ofinsulation means for a portion of the mechanism.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The numeral 11 in the drawingdesignates a shank having an enlarged portion 13 (see especially FIG. 3)integrally formed thereon. A plurality of teeth 15 form a gear on theperiphery of enlarged portion 13, with the opposed ilanks 17, 19 of theteeth being substantially parallel. The anks may be inclined slightlyand preferably diverge as shown in FIG. 3. A polygon shaped socket 21extends axially into an interior region of the enlarged portions 13.

The upper region of shank 11 has in this instance a ICC cylindricalexteror and receives a handle 23 with slots 24 preferably constructed ofelectrically nonconductive material, such handle having an interiorcylindrical region 25 which may be inserted over the shank 11. An airvent 24 extends through `the shank 11 to facilitate assembly anddisassembly of the handle 23. An annular groove 27 (see FIG. 2) mateswith a depressible but captive ball retainer 29 (see FIG. 1) to securethe the handle 23 to the shank 11. The handle is therefore rotatable onthe shank and, by exerting a relatively large upward axial force againstit, may be removed from the shank.

`'A removable handtool such as the screwdriver 30 may be inserted intothe polygon shaped socket 21, such screwdriver having a polygon-shapedupper end 31 and a depressible but captive ball retainer 33 that engagesa sidewall within the socket 21 to secure the screwdriver.

`A housing 35 encloses enlarged portion 13, and as seen in FIG. 3, hasan aperture 37 to receive a reciprocable pin 39. The enlarged portion 13is covered by a plate 38 releasably secured to the housing 35 bysuitable fasteners 36. The pin 39 is biased toward engagement with theteeth 15 formed on enlarged portion 13 by means of a compression spring41 which engages an enlarged lower portion 40 of the pin. The spring 41also engages the shoulder of an insert 42 which in this instance issecured to the housing 35 by suitable means such as epoxy resin,threads, tack weld, interference tit, etc. The enlarged lower portion 40of the pin 39 is adapted to extend between the space between theopposing anks 17, 19 of the teeth and is beveled as indicated by thenumeral 47 to intersect an arcuate portion 48. When the housing 35, asviewed in FIG. 3, is rotated in the clockwise direction, the beveledportion 47 of the pin 39 rides over each tooth crest 20, with consequentreciprocation of the pin 39. However, engagement of the arcuate portion48 with a flank 17 causes rotation of the enlarged portion 13 and a toolinserted in socket 21 when housing 35 is rotated in the counterclockwisedirection.

To enable reverse rotation of the housing 35, vthe pin 39 is retracted,rotated 180 degrees, and then released. Thus, counterclockwise rotationof the housing 35 causes the beveled portion 47 of the pin 39 to rideover each tooth crest 20. However, engagement of the arcuate portion 48with a ank 19 causes rotation of the enlarged portion 13 and toolinserted in socket 21 when housing 35 is rotated inthe clockwisedirection.

A control element 49 which in this instance is a knurled knob, issecured to the upper end of the pin 39 to enable manual reciprocationand rotation of the pin to reverse the direction of possible rotation ofthe housing relative to the removable tool. The knob has a rib 50 whichextends into a mating formed in the insert 4Z to properly orient theknob.

An arm 51, having in the drawing a covering 53 of electricallynonconductive material, is removably secured by suitable means such asepoxy resin, interference t, etc., to a yoke portion 57 which extendsover slotted portions 59, 61 of the housing 35. Dowel pins 63, 65 areinserted through respective tines V60, 62 of the yoke 57 and into thehousing 35 and secured by retainer pins 64, 66 to pivotally secure thearm 51 for rotation about an axis perpendicular to and adjacent thecommon axis of the dowel pins 63, 65 such that the yoke 57 partiallycovers and protects the reciprocable pin and associated rachetingmechanism.

In FIGS. 5 and 6 are shown boot insulation means 67 which fits aroundthe housing 35 and yoke 57 in the interest of safety when working aroundthe electrical conductor-s. An aperture 69 receives arm 51; aperture 71receives the tool 30; and an elongated aperture 73 receives handle 23,while exposing one side of the knob 49. A

smaller elongated aperture 75 on the opposite side of the insulationmeans 67 exposes the opposite side of the knob and thus it may beconveniently retracted and rotated 180 degrees. Notches 77, 79 on theinsulation means enable the arm 51 to be folded toward the handle 23.

It should be apparent from the foregoing that we have provided aninvention having signicant advantages. The formation of the gear as anintegral portion of the shaft 11 and the utilization of the toolreceiving socket 21 internally of the gear provides a racheting handtoolmechanism of great strength. Moreover, the utilization of a singlereciprocable pin or pawl 39 which may be conveniently used to reversethe direction of rotation by withdrawing and rotating it 180 degreesproduces a high degree of ruggedness and reliability. The utilization ofa mounting system for the reciprocable pin 39 which enables the arm 51and its yoke 57 to partially cover the pin and rachet mechanism at alltimes prevents failure through accidental impact. Further, theutilization of the handle 23 construction shown enables shaft 11 torotate within handle 23 to eliminate necessity for the user changing hisgrip on the handle. However, when the handle 23 is folded into one ofthe slots 24 of the handle 23, rotation of the handle on the shank 11 isprevented and the tool may be used in the manner of a conventionalscrewdriver. By utilizing an electrically nonconductive material on orfor the handle 23, the arm 51, and the boot insulation means 67 the toolmay be utilized with a higher degree of safety.

While we have shown our invention in only one of its forms it should beapparent to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited but issusceptible to various changes and modilications without departing fromthe spirit thereof.

We claim:

1. A racheting handtool mechanism comprising:

a shank having an enlarged portion on one end, a gear having teeth withopposed and substantially parallel flanks formed on the periphery ofsaid portion, and a polygon shaped socket formed axially in an interiorregion of said portion;

a rotatable handle secured to one end of said shank;

a removable tool secured in said socket;

a housing enclosing said enlarged protrusion;

a reciprocable pin carried by said housing and being biased to extendradially into engagement with the teeth of said gear, the end of the pinbeing beveled to permit rotation of said gear in one direction andconsequent reciprocation of said pin;

a control element extending beyond said housing and being secured tosaid pin to enable manual retraction and rotation of said pin to reversethe direction of possible rotation of said gear; and

an arm having a yoke portion pivotally secured to the housing to rotateabout an axis adjacent the axis of said reciprocable pin to partiallycover and protect said pin.

2. The mechanism defined by claim 1 wherein the handle has groove meansformed on an exterior thereof to receive the folded arm to preventrotation of the handle relative to the shank.

3. The mechanism defined by claim 1 wherein an insulation bootsubstantially covers the housing and the yoke of said arm, andinsulation means covers the arm and the handle.

4. The mechanism delined by claim 1 wherein the reciprocable pin extendsthrough an insert secured in an aperture in the housing, biasing meansextend between the insert and the pin to urge the pin toward the teeth,and a rib on the control element, which is secured to the pin, extendsinto a mating slot in the insert to orient the pm.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,601,767 10/1926 Peterson 8158.1

FOREIGN PATENTS 210,895 10/1957 Australia.

499,786 6/ 1930 Germany.

JAMES L. I ONES, JR., Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R.

